Bromley Council Elections 2014: Who's Going to Win?

Village News’ readers may be aware from national media reports that there are elections taking place next month to the European Parliament. What hasn’t been quite so widely publicised, as it’s not happening nationally, is that there are some local elections taking place on the same day. This includes the election of councillors to Bromley Council.

Here at Village News we’ve yet to see one single election leaflet drop through our letterbox, despite the election being barely three weeks away. Therefore we’ve decided to bring you some facts and figures with a sprinkle of Village News fairy dust to help you make your decision on 22^nd May.

How many Councillors? There are sixty seats up for grabs on Bromley Council, the same as in 2010. Those with even not very long memories will remember around the time of the last election in 2010 that Bromley Council was putting it about that in 2014 the number of councillors would be reduced from sixty to forty. This has not happened, the subsequent excuse being that it wasn’t “feasible,” the reason being “because of the electoral cycle,” according to a Bromley Council spokesman. However, Village News understands that the proposal will now be considered for 2018. Shall we hold our breath? In the meantime, in a poll taken last year by News Shopper, of those that expressed an opinion (there were 6% “don’t know”), 89% agreed that local councils should be reduced in size and have fewer councillors. Given that we have had a London Assembly for a number of years that administers some of the work in the Village News area, there is a debate to be had regarding London borough councils being split up into parish councils, overseen by the London Assembly, with elected representatives being local residents first and having party allegiances second. In next month’s elections there are representatives of only seven parties, plus one Independent.

Which party to vote for?

The Conservatives: The Conservatives currently hold 53 of the 60 seats on Bromley Council, up from 49 in 2006. They are fielding 60 candidates. In both 2006 and 2010 the Conservatives won all of the 11 seats in the Village News’ area. (3 in Bickley, 3 in Chislehurst, 2 in Mottingham & Chislehurst North, and 3 in Petts Wood & Knoll.) In 2010 some of the Conservative councillors gained huge numbers of votes, due in part to the general election being held on the same day, so more coming out to vote and voting as they would be traditionally expected to in this area. There had never previously been a council election and a general election held on the same day since the formation of the boroughs in 1964.

Labour: Labour currently hold 3 seats, down from 4 in 2006. They are fielding 60 candidates. Labour did particularly badly in Petts Wood in 2010 with one candidate amassing 522 votes which was just one tenth of one of the Conservatives who gained 5,197 votes. Interestingly, in 2010 Petts Wood was the ward with the second highest turnout across all of the 32 London boroughs.

Liberal Democrats: Liberal Democrats currently hold 4 seats, down from 7 in 2006. It wasn’t that the Liberal Democrats didn’t do well in 2010 in the number of votes that they gained, it was just that the Conservatives did better.  In Bickley the Liberal Democrats increased the number of votes by an average of a whopping 92% whereas the Conservatives “only” managed 49%. However the Conservatives still managed to gain an average of over three times as many total votes as the Liberal Democrats. What Village News finds a little more alarming is that for 2014 the Liberal Democrats are only contesting 47 seats, whereas in 2006 they contested all 60, and 59 in 2010. It may be that they see no point in contesting seats where they haven’t a hope of winning, but it doesn’t give much confidence to the voter who wants to back a winner and not an also ran. After all, Labour is contesting all 60 seats and yet Labour have had fewer seats on Bromley Council in both 2006 and 2010 than the Liberal Democrats.

UK Independence Party (UKIP): In 2006 UKIP contested just 1 seat, in 2010 they contested 10. Next month they will be contesting 35 seats in all of the wards, presumably hoping to do well on the back of the European elections being held the same day.

Greens: The Greens are fielding 22 candidates. In 2010 they fielded 15 and in 2006 just 10. In the 5 wards where both Greens and UKIP stood in 2010, UKIP gained more votes than the Greens in 4 of them.

British National Party: Contesting 3 seats. (3 in 2010 and 2 in 2006).

Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition: Contesting 1 seat.

Independents: The only Independent standing next month is Colin Willetts who is to be found in Cray Valley West ward. In 2006 Willetts was one of the 4 Labour councillors – he represented the same ward – but in 2010, in his absence, the seat went to the Conservatives. Back in 2010 there were 5 Independents, the most notable was Peter Bloomfield who stood in Darwin ward - the last remaining single seat ward in London. Bloomfield had represented the Conservatives in that ward from 1982 until 2010, when he was deselected by the Conservatives. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens did not field a candidate in Darwin ward in 2010, although they had in 2006, presumably to allow Bloomfield a run at the Conservative candidate. He fell short in his endeavour by just 67 votes. Had the UKIP candidate not stood, who gained 299 votes, there would have been every possibility that Bloomfield could have won. But he did, so he didn’t, so to speak. In 2006 there were 8 independents standing. It appears that Independents are now choosing to align themselves with the smaller parties, this certainly so in the interesting case that is Julian Grainger. Back in 2010 Grainger complained that Village News had suggested that Bloomfield  had been “dumped” by the Conservatives. “He hasn’t been ‘dumped’, it’s just that we've chosen not to reselect him.” Now the same has happened to Grainger, but instead of standing as an Independent, he’s joined UKIP and will be fighting in the same ward where he was a Conservative councillor for many years: Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom.

Who’s going to win in Bromley? It may seem that the answer is going to be the Conservatives, although between 1998 and 2001 – just after Tony Blair became Prime Minister - Labour and Liberal Democrats managed to scrape together a coalition. Given the problems that the party of national government often has in the popularity stakes, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will not do as well as in 2010. The Conservatives’ share of the vote fell below 50 per cent for the first time in the three elections to 2010 and Village News predicts their share will fall further in May. In 12 of the 22 wards the individual Conservatives hold the most number of votes followed by the Liberal Democrats. In these 12 wards Labour are some way behind so will not pick up any seats in these. Bloomfield is not standing in Darwin so this ward will stay with the Conservatives. Although only 1 Independent is standing, the number of candidates standing from outside the three main parties has gone from 21 in 2006, to 33 in 2010, to 62 for 2014, a tripling of the number in 8 years. This increase has come in part from the Greens but mostly from UKIP, up from one in 2006 to 35 for 2014. This increase may be just a triumph of hope over experience but the relative unpopularity of the coalition, the fact that the European elections are on the same day,and the rise of the smaller parties' share of the vote may give UKIP something to look forward to.

Wards to look out for? Undoubtedly Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom where Grainger is standing for UKIP. A 3 seat ward, Grainger received the most votes in 2006 and 2010 when a Conservative. With a popular local man who lives in Chelsfield, (two of his Conservative opponents don’t even live in the ward) and with UKIP in the ascendency, anything could happen.

Crystal Palace ward holds two of the Liberal Democrat councillors - who may struggle against Labour. If the Labour candidates hold their votes they may cause an upset. However, both the Labour candidates are new to the ward whereas Tom Papworth is seeking re-election as a Liberal Democrat, this time with his wife, Vicki. Jobs for the boys?

Do our candidates live in their wards? Here at Village News we believe the electorate is best served at local level if our elected representatives actually live in their wards. In Bickley ward only one Conservative lives in Bickley. In Chislehurst ward two Conservatives live there although the third, Ian Payne, lives in West Wickham. Do Chislehurst voters have an interest in West Wickham? The answer may explain why Payne received 988 fewer votes in 2010 than Katy Boughey who has 24 years as a local Councillor under her belt. One of the two Conservative candidates in Mottingham ward lives in Mottingham, the other in Bickley. The reason for this is that the Bickley resident, Charles Rideout, lives with Catherine Rideout, who is a Bickley ward councillor. More jobs for the boys? Then again, one of the Labour candidates in Mottingham ward lives in Penge, which is about as far away as one can get whilst remaining in the borough. Finally, Petts Wood, which seems to have the worst deal. One Conservative lives in Orpington, another in Pratts Bottom and a third in West Wickham.

Jobs for the boys? There are other examples. There are two Huntington-Threshers. They don’t appear to live together but with a surname like that Village News assumes they’re from the same family. There may be others, but for now we’ll end with the Webbers. There is a Sam, a Jon and a John all standing as Liberal Democrat candidates. Supper round their dining table must be riveting.

As for policies and promises, we wait by the letterbox...

What do you think? Don't forget to leave your comments below.

Statement of Persons Nominated

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

"Let them eat cake"

"Every church should consider a foodbank" Steve Chalke MBE

In a recent moment of madness former MP Edwina Currie, writing in a recent blog, stated,

Free food subsidises low wages; it helps support the black economy. It pauperises those it seeks to help. Like giving money to ‘homeless’ beggars on London streets, it encourages more of what it seeks to relieve.

Christ Church's inaugural March collection

Marie Antoinette would have been proud of her, although this Queen's famous comment was based on ignorance rather than a complete lack of compassion. For Ms Currie misses the point, that free food exists because there is a need, not to create one. With over five thousand people in the UK being admitted to hospital last year for malnutrition that would seem to be need enough. In any event it’s not a case of popping along to Sainsbury’s and standing in the ‘free food’ check out, one has to be referred by a health professional and for three days’ food at a time, not a lifetime’s. Those health professionals that Village News speaks to often cite, without political comment, that it's changes to the welfare support system and individuals' circumstances which mean that families can be left for weeks without financial support that create a need, a need which foods banks can then attempt to meet.

The Bromley Borough Food Bank has been set up at the United Reformed Church in Widmore Road, Bromley. Rather than stagger to Bromley overladen with your donations, you can now drop them off at Christ Church, Lubbock Road, Chislehurst on the first Sunday of each month between services. These drop-of times are 08.30 – 09.00, 10.15 - 10.45, 12.15 - 12.45).

And why not "let them eat cake?"

More details are available at http://www.christchurchchislehurst.org/new/community/foodbank

www.bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

Two M & S in Chislehurst!

You know how it is, you wait forever for one Marks & Spencer's to come along and then two turn up, give or take a few months, at the same time.

Whilst we at Village News are looking forward to getting our hands on some M & S Percy Pigs in Chislehurst Library - what bliss to read a Percy Pig book and munch on his sweets, sourced from the same building at the same time, it seems that the B P service station in Perry Street can't wait.

This busy petrol station is closed at present and when it reopens it will be home to not only petrol but an M & S Simply Food.

We're aware that our online poll asking readers whether they would like an M & S in Chislehurst Library has hardly given a ringing endorsement to the plan - a planning application has yet to be submitted to Bromley Council - so why doesn't B P simply include a library on its site in Perry Street? This would then mean that Chislehurst Library could then be turned into something we know so many Village News readers would love to see in our High Street - a Lidl!
www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

How to lessen the Council Tax blow

It's March, so that means it's spring, whether that's 1st, 21st or whenever. Here at Village News we're never certain. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "There are only two certainties in life – death and taxes,” so there’s no excuse not to be prepared for what's been dropping through our letterboxes recently - our Council Tax bills for 2014-15. This innocuous sheet of A4 paper tells us that we have an increase of -0.3% on the previous year. This doesn't sound too bad.

What our bill doesn't tell us, and what we believe it should, is how much this usurious tax has increased over a longer period. This is because it would enable residents to see a more accurate picture, when comparing against inflation, as the peaks and troughs would be ironed out.

Unfortunately there have been a number of peaks and not many troughs. (A decrease of 0.3% is, we would suggest, more of a puddle.)

Village News has gone back to 1998. In 16 years, Bromley Council Tax has risen by approximately 114%, in other words, more than doubled. In 1998-99 a Bromley borough property in band E would have paid £745.03 in Council Tax. For 2014-15 this will be £1599.97. Compare this to inflation. Using RPI (Retail Prices Index), total inflation between 1998 and 2012 - the latest year for which data is available - was 49.14%. Even allowing for two more years to be added to the RPI (which is currently around 2%), Council Tax is cumulatively running at over double the rate of inflation.

Compared to the other London boroughs, Bromley isn't doing too well either. In 1999 a Band E Bromley borough property was paying the 5th lowest Council Tax in London. In 2013 it had fallen to 12th. When we get all the figures in for this year we'll let you know where we stand now, in the meantime, what can we do about it?

There are two things:

1. Council elections are on 22nd May this year, when you get a chance to vote for your Council representatives. More on this, no doubt, nearer the time.
2. Council Tax has historically been payable in ten monthly instalments. This is great news for the Council but plays havoc with household budgeting. The back of your Council Tax bill points out that you can now pay in 12 instalments, as it now has to offer this. What is rather disingenuously doesn't tell you is that you can't just start paying a twelfth each month, you have to contact the Council to get your instalments amended. And here's the rub: You have to do it soon or you will lose this important concession. When we spoke to the Council Tax helpline this morning we were told that we had until the first payment date to request a twelve-month instalment plan.

This date - rather fittingly - is All Fools' Day: April 1st.

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

Missing Chislehurst schoolgirl

Update: 13th March. 16.29. Amy has been found and is safe and well.

Police are appealing for help to find a teenager missing from Chislehurst.

Missing: Amy Wilson-Smith. Photo - Met Police

Amy Wilson-Smith, 14, of Chislehurst was last seen at approximately 19:05hrs on Wednesday 12th March at Bromley South train station.

Amy is 5ft 7ins tall, with shoulder length highlighted blond wavy hair. She was wearing her Bishop Justus school uniform of a black jumper, skirt and coat and a purple and white shirt. Amy was also carrying black school bag.
It is believed that she may have travelled to the Kentish town area of London. The disappearance is out of character for Amy.
Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101.
www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

PIXIE LOTT GOES “BACK TO SCHOOL” AS CHARITY AMBASSADOR

Singer makes surprise visit to school - which has been tragically affected by young sudden cardiac death - on behalf of leading charity.

Assemblies will never seem the same again for the pupils of a local school  who today were serenaded by one of the biggest stars of Britain’s pop scene, singer /songwriter, Pixie Lott!

The “Boys and Girls” star surprised around 600 pupils, aged 11 to 18 from the Ravens Wood School in Bromley - previously home to such prestigious talents as Peter Frampton and David Bowie - as she emerged from the wings and took to the stage in the main hall. Pixie sang a selection of songs including her brand new single Nasty, out this week, and some more from her self- titled new album Pixie Lott, which will be released late Spring before answering questions from the excited audience.

 

23 year old Pixie, who has connections with Chislehurst, Petts Wood and Bickley, became a patron of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) almost 4 years ago and has been a loyal and proactive supporter of the charity and its work to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death in young people.

Pixie made history when she became the first singer to perform live inside the House of Commons when she ‘took to the mike’ during the charity’s annual parliamentary reception in 2010. The following year, she delivered a mesmerising performance of ‘Silent Night’ at CRY’s Carol Concert.

Pixie said; "I became a patron of CRY as it affects so many young people and it’s crazy that a seemingly fit and young person can just drop down dead. I feel it’s so important to raise awareness and will continue to use my role as Patron to help ‘spread the word’ about the charity’s vital work."

Ravens Wood School has a very poignant connection to CRY following the deaths of three young, male pupils in its recent history. They include Matt Beadle (a former pupil - who also knew Pixie Lott during his time at the Italia Conti School in Chislehurst) who died suddenly in 2012 aged just 32, and 15 year old Ben Daniels who collapsed without warning whilst playing football with his Ex Blues FC teammates in March 2011.

Ben’s dad, Paul, from Bickley, has raised over £80,000 through the Ben Daniels Memorial Fund to support CRY’s pioneering screening programme which now tests around 14,000 young people every year. As a result of Paul’s efforts, around 1,000 young people have been screened in the local area over the past 3 years, both at Ravens Wood and the Old Elthamians Sports Club in Chislehurst, in memory of Ben.

He adds; "It's Pixie’s passion and enthusiasm for CRY that continues to bring people together in our common cause of saving young people's lives and remembering those, like Ben, that have died."

As well as being an inspiring ambassador for young people, Pixie also has a personal connection to the charity and the issue of young sudden cardiac death. In 2004, Adam Donnelly, who was a friend of Pixie’s older sister, Charlie, tragically died from a previously undiagnosed condition known as Brugada syndrome. He was aged just 17.

Since Adam’s death, his parents Jed and Julie, from Sidcup, have become committed supporters of the charity, working tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for CRY.

Every week, 12 young (aged 35 and under) people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death in the UK - a statistic that is believed to be a conservative estimate. A staggering 80% of these apparently healthy young people who die from young sudden cardiac death will have shown no previous sign of heart defects until it is too late.

Chief Executive and Founder of CRY, Alison Cox MBE, says; "Everyone was absolutely delighted that Pixie was able to visit [Ravens Wood which has] a special link to CRY. She is a wonderful ambassador for our charity and has an unique way of communicating with this young – seemingly invincible - age group, who can sometimes be ‘hard to reach’ with messages about health and the importance of having their hearts checked out."

Mr Rhys Spiers, Vice Principal of Ravens Wood School, says; "Many of Ben’s friends and classmates are still pupils at Ravens Wood and he continues to be missed by them all. To have lost three pupils over the years from similar, undiagnosed heart conditions is absolutely tragic and it has left a real legacy with us as a school. Since Ben’s tragic death we have raised a significant amount of money and undertaken numerous initiatives in order to raise awareness. We are committed to screening students for their cardiac health every year and feel that we are a leading example to other schools.

It was a great honour – and great fun! – to welcome Pixie to our school and we all feel she does an amazing job in helping raise awareness about CRY’s work."

www.c-r-y.org.uk

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk